Chronic Renal Failure :(

[Mark]

I asked my vet about phosphate binders and he was very dismissive saying he doesn't approve of them and they "can cause problems". A lot of people think they help. The good thing is, they can eat their regular food with them as they are tasteless and odourless. I did some reading up on it and it says a build up of calcium can cause dementia. I have also considered ground eggshell as a natural binder. Clapton loves packet ham & chicken. I never allowed him much anyway but I'm even more careful with it now as its loaded with phosphate additives. I allow hime just enought to wrap his fortekor in.

I also give him bottled water. I was using brita filtered water but I bought a new jug recently and it had a warning regarding people with kidney problems. It said that filtered water can have raised pottasium levels. As I don't know the implications of this, I stick with bottled water (27p for 2L in Lidl  )

My vet's opinion of slippery elm is "harmless but useless" - I think it helped when he was nauseous. I just sprinked it on his food and although it has a funny smell, he ate it anyway and he is really fussy.

[Stuart]

I did ask about slippery elm bark and Phos Binders, but was told he  doesn't need them justnow

Just a couple of thoughts.

I didnt start using phosphate binders Till Tiffy became seriously ill. I do wonder if I should have started earlier.

The cat Has CRF. A chronic disease process that is going to get worse. The kidneys are at a stage of being permanently damaged due to polycystic disease or glomerular nephritis and so on and could at any point decide to fail fully. Suerly, any thing that will make the kidneys job easier and not stress them so much is a good thing and could possible increase life expectancy and quality of life. Is it a case of the more done earlier on may help in delaying the disease process.

Thanks Cheeky Monkey
I will DEFINATELY bring this up, after all I'm paying for his treatment, and only want the Best for him
I am Now that they didn't give me the option !!!

Stuart.........

[Elaine]

I did ask about slippery elm bark and Phos Binders, but was told he  doesn't need them justnow

Just a couple of thoughts.

I didnt start using phosphate binders Till Tiffy became seriously ill. I do wonder if I should have started earlier.

The cat Has CRF. A chronic disease process that is going to get worse. The kidneys are at a stage of being permanently damaged due to polycystic disease or glomerular nephritis and so on and could at any point decide to fail fully. Suerly, any thing that will make the kidneys job easier and not stress them so much is a good thing and could possible increase life expectancy and quality of life. Is it a case of the more done earlier on may help in delaying the disease process.

I have to agree with that.  I also beleive that in my old boy Winstons case that vitamin supplements helped greatly too.  It is my beleif that if I hadnt given him regular B vitamins and trace iron that he would have probably became anaemic.

[cheekee_munkee]

The kidney is made up of a million or so tubules called nephrons.

These microscopic structures are responsible for flitering waste products out of the blood.

Each nephron has a glomerulus, a proximal convoluted tubule, a loop of henley a distal convoluted tubule and a collecting duct.

The blood flows in by the renal artery and flows through the afferent arteriole to the glomeruli. The glomerulus is like a tiny sieve. It only allows molecules small enough to pass through. Molecules that are valuable and needed are too big to fit through and so are saved and reintroduced into the blood stream. Molecules like creatinine and urea pass through. Urea is a by product of metabolism and is the result of the bodys conversion of amonia. In a diseased kidney, the glomeruli may be unable to work properly and so needed molecules may escape so depleting the body. In diabetes, glucose molecules can be detected in urine for example. There is a blood test that can determine the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

The tubules and loop of henley work by osmosis. depending on the body's hydration status, sodium molecules pass either in or out to allow more or less water to be extracted into urine through the tubule membranes. There is a minimum and maximum rate of filtering. This mechanism is important in maintaining blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage these tubules and glomeruli. In a diseased kidney, more urine tends to get produced with a weaker concentration of toxins and so the cat becomes dehydrated over time.

The collecting duct is where the resulting urine collects and passes into the ureter down to the bladder. Cleansed blood is returned via the efferent arteriole to the renal vein.

It is generally accepted that a deterioration may not be seen untill 75% of kidney function is lost. This shows the kidneys great reserve but at the same time means things may not be picked up until very late on.


Please dont think im trying to be clever in posting this. Im not sureof youre knowledge and thought it might help.



[attachment deleted by admin]

[cheekee_munkee]

I did ask about slippery elm bark and Phos Binders, but was told he  doesn't need them justnow

Just a couple of thoughts.

I didnt start using phosphate binders Till Tiffy became seriously ill. I do wonder if I should have started earlier.

The cat Has CRF. A chronic disease process that is going to get worse. The kidneys are at a stage of being permanently damaged due to polycystic disease or glomerular nephritis and so on and could at any point decide to fail fully. Suerly, any thing that will make the kidneys job easier and not stress them so much is a good thing and could possible increase life expectancy and quality of life. Is it a case of the more done earlier on may help in delaying the disease process.

[Elaine]

Sub-q's is the term used for syringing fluids under the skin as your vet described.
So pleased to hear that Hamish is doing well xxx

[Stuart]

Hi ppl, Hamish is home and looking / feeling better 
Yes the Results were the ones taken before the rehydration, I have asked the vet how many times you can do this IV thingy and she said as
many times as you want, I also asked her about replenishing his fluid's at home, and she said this is done with a syringe under the loose skin at
the neck, sounds easy I see  sub-q's were mentioned, there was nothing said about those. what are sub-q's ??
He still seem's to be eating the Royal canin Renal food as does Misty, had to go back to the surgery and ask them is it ok for him to eat it also?
as splitting them up when they have always eaten together, just because they have different foods is a shame.
but I was told because Misty is 16 years and 1 month (only found out his correct age today) that it would do him no harm..
Hamish has spent most of the day Looking out of his window watching the cars go by(with me trailing behind him with a bowl of water) but he
is back in the spare room now, I Know he's still not 100% but he is looking an awful lot better( apart from all his shaved bits, 2 in the neck and 1 on each front leg)
Have to take him back to vet's on monday, see how he's doing
p.s. I did ask about slippery elm bark and Phos Binders, but was told he  doesn't need them justnow

Thanks again, and I'll keep you Posted on how he's doing

[cheekee_munkee]

My Tiffy has CRF

I thought he was going to die about a month ago.

I spent nights syringe feeding him and giving fluids by syringe and he managed to pull through.

With CRF, cats can crash and they look like there are dying,  Its very easy to let emotion sway our judgement. I have found this very hard. It can be an emotional rollecoaster but sometimes very worthwhile.

I have been taught to give subcutaneous fluids at home. It works and Tiffy has a good quality of life. Its like topping his system up. I think CRF cats get to the stage where there oral intake doesnt keep up with the increased fluid loss through the kidneys. So overtime, dehydration can happen but isnt noticed easily. So it can get to the stage of danger and you think the cat is dying. Ways to check for dehydration include looking at the gums to see if they are dry and checking for uraemic ulceration. Also you can do the pinch test by lifting the scruff of the neck and observing how quickly the skin returns to its normal state (tissue turgor) but please be aware that if the cat has lost a lot of weight, that the skin at the scruff may have become looser and so give a false reading. The best way to check for dehydration is a blood test unfortunately. The tests look at PCV (packed cell volume). A Urine dipstick can be used to test the specific gravity. This shows how concentrated the urine is. The pulse rate you stated will be because of a reduced systemic blood volume. The heart will have to beat faster to pump the available blood around the body. This changes as to how the body is hyrdrated. Also your vet needs to consider high blood pressure as this may need to be addressed.

Elaine on this forum has helped loads. Shes had a lot of experience with CRF and sadly im catching up.

For me I find the following very important.

In the case of finding the cat very ill. It is worth trying to syringe feed and give fluids for a day or 2. The CRF cat tends to do better with better hydration and their BUN and creatinine levels will change as they get better hydrated. Antibiotics may be neccesary to treat uraemic ulceration or other infection caused by the crash. An antacid drug like felodipine may help the cat with the nausea and encourage it to eat these drugs work by reducing the acid levels in the stomach and so reducing the nausea. A steroid injection may help to give a boost and as an appetite stimulant.

CRF cats can feel sick if they have ureamia/ high levels of blood toxins and so anti emetic medications or slippery elm bark is useful. They wont eat of they feel sick and so syringe feeding is important. If a cat doesnt eat for a while they can develop a condition called hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease. This can be fatal. In this case, force feeding by sryinge at home will save its life. Also if the cat has uraemic ulcers in its mouth, these are likely to make its mouth feel sore and make the cat less willing to want to eat as much as it needs. If the cat is dehydrated its mouth will be very dry and this will not help.  I find blending Tiffys food so its not puree, but an easier texture helps. I have also invested in cat water fountains with filters and also a britta water filter jug. He loves the filtered water and its better for his kidneys. He definately takes more water now its filtered.

If the cat wont eat specialist renal foods. You can add a phosphate binder to the food to make it less toxic to the kidneys. Sometime, its better just to get the cat to eat something. If you need to syringe feed, Using a blender and adding a little water works well as you dont need to use Hills A/D which is the only available food that is easily sryinge feedable. Also adding water helps with the fluid intake. If you would like some tips on syringe feeding then feel free to ask.

The cats bowel habits need to be monitored as being dehydrated causes constipation and this will make the cat feel lousy and if this goes on for a long time, puts the cat at risk of megacolon.  I use 1/2 ml of lactulose twice daily and its working well.

Vitamins especialy the B vitamins are important in CRF and so suppliments can help.

Please take a look at my post about giving subcutaeous fluids.

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php?topic=6964.0


Good luck and best wishes. Its really worth trying to give things a go. CRF is incurable but there are many stories here and on the feline CRF website about CRF cats living happy lives for up to a few years.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Those results do look very high, I would imagine they were taken prior to the IV fluids.  Is your vet going to be re-testing Hamish after he's had finished his IV's?  They could have come down dramatically by now.

With regards the hyperthyroid my cat Tiggy had both CRF and hyperthyroid, she was hyperthyroid for the last 4-5 years of her life,  it was really well controlled by meds.  My vet liked to try and keep her thyroid levels at the high end of normal as a faster bloodflow is good for the ailing kidneys.

Glad that he seems to be coping at the vets OK, I bet you can't wait to have him home though 

[Elaine]

ok heres the results
crea          923.00  umo1/1        44 - 159     Hi481%
tp                   88.00   g/1          52 - 82     Hi   7%
urea                    mmo1/1       2.5 - 9.64    Hi381%
the vet said this is not good

Were these bloods taken before the rehydration? - if so they may look a lot better after rehydration. The creatinine is very high, but I can't see what the urea figure is. Would you vet be willing to let you do subcutaneous fluids at home? This would certainly help to keep him rehydrated. It helped for a little while with my Suzie, and she was a remarkably good patient. Sounds good that he's eating though.

I agree with Gillian, if the bloods were done before the rehydration, they have probably improved since being rehydrated.  I hope the Fortekor and diet will probably help.  http://www.felinecrf.org/treatments.htm#what_is_benazepril
Asking and talking to your vet about sub-q's is also a good idea as I fail to see how you can stop your cat losing the fluids by weeing.  You may also want to add extra fluids to your cats food and/or get a water fountain to encourage him to drink more as cats are not instinctively drawn to water in the same way that dogs are.  Every little helps.

[Gillian Harvey]

ok heres the results
crea          923.00  umo1/1        44 - 159     Hi481%
tp                   88.00   g/1          52 - 82     Hi   7%
urea                    mmo1/1       2.5 - 9.64    Hi381%
the vet said this is not good

Were these bloods taken before the rehydration? - if so they may look a lot better after rehydration. The creatinine is very high, but I can't see what the urea figure is. Would you vet be willing to let you do subcutaneous fluids at home? This would certainly help to keep him rehydrated. It helped for a little while with my Suzie, and she was a remarkably good patient. Sounds good that he's eating though.

[blackcat]

He's right, it is way outside the normal range. Lynn may be able to explain it to you ...

[Stuart]

ok heres the results

crea          923.00  umo1/1        44 - 159     Hi481%

tp                   88.00   g/1          52 - 82     Hi   7%

urea                    mmo1/1       2.5 - 9.64    Hi381%

heart rate is over 200

the vet said this is not good

[Desley (booktigger)]

Am glad things are seeming more positive - kidney and hyper-t do go hand in hand, but I am sure you will be able to deal with that when his kidney values are better. Fingers crossed you have lots more time with each other.

[Stuart]

Hi Folks, The vet phoned yesterday and said that Hamish had improved a wee bit, and had eaten a couple of times, but were still wanting to keep him overnight to see how he was in the morning. I phoned not long ago and vet says he's really looking bright, and eating heaps of the special food, they are giving me that Fortekor for him also
on the not so good, the gum infection (he's also got a jab for that) and his thyroid cannot be treated justnow. mainly concentrating on the CRF,  and see how he fairs. I'll be picking him up at 11am to take him home to familiar surroundings. The vet also said she was amazed how manageable he is, not getting stressed out with all the fuss thats going on, I just said he's probably enjoing it !! Like I say he's got a really laid back personallity.
The vet also said I'd have to watch that now he's rehydrated, he keep's it and doesn't loose it all by still weeing.

I'll also get the Blood Count and post it on here later today

Stuart.........
 

[tammy]

Hi Stuart


Sorry to hear about Hamish. I had my cat pts back in may due to renal cancer and I still cry when I think about that day. If your cats dont travel well it may be posible to fax the results off to the other vet for an opinion. Be persistent and inisist on tests and full blown explanations. Feel free to pick our brains here-I had the most wonderful help from people here when Fluffy was ill and had I not poured my heart and soul to complete strangers on here I would have never known what to ask the vet and therefore get the final result. Do not feel pressured into keeping to a time slot at the vets-if there is something you want knowing insist on them telling and if they say they have other patients to see then offer to wait or come back when they have more time/ On my last trip to the vets I spent a total of 4 hours talking to a vet over the course of the day on the phone whilst at work as well as face to face in the evening. If you are not happy with something dont be afraid to say. that is the one big regret I have with Fluffys treatment-I was not happy and didnt kick up a fuss as much as I should have.

I wish you and your furry friends all the best and most of all I hope Hamish does not suffer 

[Elaine]

Hi Stuart, so sorry to hear your cat has been diagnosed with CRF.  You have already been given loads of very good advice and directed to the "bible of CRF" site.
Can I just start by saying that CRF is an emotional rollercoaster and the initial shock of the diagnosis was enough to set me off crying.  I still cry and my old boy has been gone for over a year now so dont worry about getting upset here.  One thing that I learned is to read as much as you can about the condition, learn fast but dont get too bogged down that you lose sight of the kitty.  There are many of us that can help you here should you need anything made clearer.
Dont frett too much about the numbers as they are variable and with treatment, diet and the love of a good owner these can be brought down or made stable.  It is a good idea to get copies of the blood tests so you can monitor the condition of your cat and the progression of the illness.
Try not to despair too much at this stage, many cats do really well after they have been rehydrated.
As for the CRF site, try to pick out the info you need right now, print it out, take it with you to the vets.  Try to build a good working relationship with your vet for the sake of your kitty.
I noticed you mention your cat is currently taking antirobe for a mouth infection?  You may also want to look into slippery elm bark too.  Its very good for a multitude of things that CRF cats are prone to getting including mouth ulcers, ulcers of the esophigus (sp), constipation and diahorrea as well as excess tummy acid.  You can find it under holistic treatments on the CRF site.
Anything you need, just ask no matter how silly you may think it is as all things are relevant when it comes to CRF.
Wishing you and your kitty lots of love and best wishes xxx
Try to stay possitive, your kitty needs you onside more now than ever before. xxx

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

As I am sure many of you will be reading this thread , I would just like to remind you that we have a a button at the top called links and in there is some good health info, including the crf site and elaines info.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Here is Elaines info on CRF:


     Re: HELP ME PLEASE!!!
« Reply #42 on: December 18, 2006, 11:24:57 PM »       

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am posting the info from Elaines info on the hovel so I can add this to the links on this site, hope you dont mind Angel.

Chronic Renal Failure - CRF - Frequently Asked Questions

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LIVING WITH A CRF CAT

If you are reading this, your cat has probably been diagnosed with CRF. Your cat may be newly diagnosed or has been fighting this disease for some time.
You undoubtedly feel overwhelmed, frightened and emotionally devastated by the news. Don’t beat yourself up about not noticing anything sooner; cats are masters at masking until they can hide it no longer.


CRF is a very complex issue and all things are relevant. I have tried to keep it as simple and easy to understand as I could. CRF is a progressive, terminal illness and not usually an immediate death sentence. Most CRF cats can go on to live for quite some time. I would like to offer some hope and support where I can.

Winston was 18 and half years old when he was diagnosed. My vet offered me little hope, so I set off, heartbroken, and started to read and learn as much as I possibly could about CRF and am still learning today. It’s not all plain sailing and we had many emotional pit falls but Winston’s quality of life was good and we shared each others lives for another 2 and half years. Winston died at the grand old age of 21 on April 4th 2006.

I am not a vet nor am I an expert on CRF but wanted to share what I have learned and try to explain in layman’s terms. I hope this may help you and your cat.

WHAT IS CRF?

CRF or Chronic Renal Failure is, in my opinion, a little misleading and I prefer to use the term Insufficiency as opposed to Failure.
It’s a term that classifies kidney problems, which eventually results in kidney function being lost.
As kidney function is lost cats are unable to filter, process and eliminate waste products effectively, resulting in a build up of toxins in the blood stream, making your cat feel very sick.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CRF?

The signs can often be very subtle but usually include some or all of the following.

An increased thirst and/or urination

Loss of appetite

Vomiting

Weight loss

Dull coat

If you think your cat may have CRF, a trip to the vets for a blood and/or urine test will confirm this.

MY VET ADVISES TO PTS MY CAT

Vets may offer this option as it may be an easier solution for an owner who may feel that the cat is near the end or if faced with, what may be years of treatments to help keep the cat stable. Some owners may feel they wouldn’t be able to cope or afford on going treatments.
Many vets talk very negatively about CRF from the start which doesn’t instil much hope or confidence in the owner. It is important that you and your vet can talk openly and honestly with each other thus creating a good working relationship for the benefit of the cat.
Change vets or get a second opinion. Many vets are not very experienced with CRF, or they think that the owners won’t do what is necessary to help and care for a CRF cat.
No one can tell you how long your cat can live with CRF. Some cats may go down hill fast, while others may go on for years. Even cats with high kidney values can sometimes go on to live for quite some time.
Ask for a copy of the blood results and ask your vet to explain the values to you, and what your options are.
You know your cat better than any one else so follow your instincts.

CREATININE AND UREA ARE HIGH

Urea, when protein is broken down through the digestive process, ammonia is absorbed into the gut. The liver then makes a substance call urea from the ammonia. The urea then travels through the blood stream in the form of urea nitrogen to the kidneys, the blood is filtered out and the rest is filtered out as urine. This means that the urea test is to check the level of nitrogen in the bloodstream.
Creatinine is another waste product which is filtered through the kidneys. Creatinine can tell us more accurately of underlying kidney issues because diet, dehydration and stress affect it less.
Many vets will tell you these values and then tell you what the normal ranges are. It’s scary because it sounds like your cat’s values are exceptionally high. By doing this, your vet isn’t giving you a good reference.
Each cat is different. These values are variable and can be reduced with treatment or at least stabilised. Some cats are able to tolerate mid to high levels of Creatinine and Urea quite well.

For example
Normal ranges Urea = 3.5 – 8.0 mmol/L Creatinine = 40 – 180
Winston was stable for over a year with a Urea of 18mmol/L and Creatinine of 360 – 377
Although these numbers look high, Winston was comfortable. He had off days but mostly he was on good form.


MY CAT WONT EAT THE PRESCRIPTION FOOD

It’s always best to introduce new foods gradually. There are some mixed opinions about prescription food for CRF cats. The important thing is that your cat eats. If your cat won’t eat the prescribed food, try to find a food with the lowest phosphorus that your cat will eat. Senior cat foods tend to have less phosphorus than Adult cat foods. You may also want to discuss the use of phos binders with your vet. A phos binder will bind the phosphorus in the food in the intestine and stops it from being absorbed. A cat with CRF can‘t excrete phosphorus from its kidneys properly, this in turn may affect calcium levels which can have serious consequences. High levels of phosphorus will make your CRF cat feel very sick. It is recommended that the phosphorus level in the food you choose for your CRF cat should be under 1%, most prescription foods have a phosphorus level of under 0.5%.

TEMPTING YOUR CAT TO EAT

It’s very upsetting and frustrating when your cat refuses to eat. You may want to try the following.

Mixing some chicken or tuna into your cat’s food.

Try a variety of foods.

Sit with and talk to your cat while it’s eating.

Excess tummy acid is a big issue with CRF cats, ask your vet about Zantac syrup or similar to help settle your cats tummy.

Slippery Elm Bark may also be useful to help combat tummy acid.
Try mixing some tuna and water together.

Baby foods; just make sure they don’t contain any onion.

Try warming the food or adding a little boiled water to it.

Try assist feeding, sometimes if you can get a little food into your cat, he/she may start to eat on their own. Syringe a little food into the side of the mouth and not directly down the cat’s throat.

You may also want to ask your vet about appetite stimulants.

HIND LEG WEAKNESS

Your cat may have a potassium deficiency. Ask your vet about a potassium supplement.

MY CAT IS VERY SICK AND LETHARGIC

CRF cats are very prone to becoming anaemic. This can be life threatening and must be taken seriously and treated.
PCV and HCT are both values that can indicate anaemia. Your vet can prescribe Epogen or similar to help with this but my favourite is a supplement of B vits and Iron in the form of Pet Tinnic.


HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO LET GO?

This is of course a very difficult time. Some say you will know instinctively, others that their cat let them know. It may be an idea to think about PTS before the time actually arrives. Talk to your vet and ask for their guidance. It’s very rare that a CRF cat will die peacefully in its sleep.
With Winston, it was under discussion for a week or two before; his age and ability to cope, as well as his quality of life were all considered. He was almost 21 years old and frail, his world had become so very small and he barely moved from the bed at this stage. He just seemed miserable and the bad times had now out weighed the good times. I couldn’t watch him suffer any more, despite my best efforts to help him. Sadly, the day after his 21st birthday, I let him go. He had had a long and happy life.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CRF?

There is a wealth of information on the internet about CRF. Try a search for Feline CRF and you will be faced with more sites than you could shake a stick at. Here are a few of my favourites.

Tanya's Feline CRF info centre

Nadia's Feline CRF page

Feline CRF Information Centre

FAB CRF Management Home

For The Love of Cats - CRF info page

World Small Animal Vetinary Association - CRF Care guidlines
 
 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

  to Purrs 

I am sorry to hear about Hamish and you are in the right place for good advice as you can see. It maybe a good idea to get your vet to give you a copy of any test results cos people on hear know about the numbers on them and will tell you a bit if they can.

I hope that your vet can treat Hamish and yes its Elaine and Winston, and Elaine has loads of info.

[chrisleitz]

Stuart,
Hamish and Minty are lovely.  I'm sorry to hear about Hamish but please don't despair.  Things can be done for CRF cats.  Helen has already responded to you and I think there was another lady usualy on here who's cat suffered from CRF (Elaine and Winston?) but I may be wrong.  Winston I believe lived to be 21.
Don't give up hope.  I keep my fingers crossed.

[Stuart]

Hammish in 1994

[Stuart]

Thank You All so much for your words of support and advice.
    Its silly, He's still here, but I cant stop crying. I'm not a negative Person, but in the past I have always learned to expect the worst. that way if it happens, you are kind of prepared, and if it does'nt it's a Bonus. I Took Hamish to the Vet's this morning, took me a wee while to find him. I slept with him in the spare room last night "he always Hogs the Pillow" but when I woke this morning, he was'nt there?? he had managed to crawl his way underneath to the back of the bed, had to take a stanley knife to it to get him out. and he comes out looking at me as if he was "saying whats the problem ??" He's still looking bright though

Like I say I have 2 Cats Misty and Hamish, Misty is a Rebel, a kind of Rage against the machine Punk type.
whereas Hamish is the most couthiest laid back Cat you'd ever meet..allthough he does run like a panzy
Misty thought he was the boss untill one day I took home fresh fish for them, when Misty came in about for some Hamish Hissed at him, I couldnt believe it myself, even misty had to take a second look at him

I notice there was fortekor treatment mentioned ?? The vet's did give me Antirobe pill's for a mouth infection, but other than that, no other medicinal treatment has been suggested. I Had his bloods taken twice in the last six years, and both times was told they were fine, it was suggested the third last time I had him to vets, that they do a blood test, I said but he had his bloods done last year, the vet checked her PC and said "well there's no record of it here!" I told her "Great!! I pay for blood test, and you don't keep the results !!"
however when I went down today, The vet told me in 2001, he had slightly raised blood count. and yet I was told his bloods were fine.
Incompitent?? I dont know, I have thought about changing vets, but the nearest one is 15 miles away, and Both Hamish & Misty dont Travel well.

My Mother's last two cats had CRF, but i was'nt there to see the symptom's , I do remember her telling me that they want to feed Kirsty on Rice" which she didn't eat. Kirsty was 13 and Poor Geordie( Now He Was a BIG Cat ) was only 3, He was Just a Shell in the end..

You have these Beasties for so long, that you think they will be with you forever, But my Problem is that I know Sooner or later The Decision will have to be made for Euthanasia, I Wont Let him Suffer, no matter what !!

I am Just sitting here by the phone justnow, waiting for the vet to tell me how Hamish is doing.

I apologize for babling a bit, but It's good to speak to other people who have experianced or are going through the same
Once again THANK YOU ALL for your Kind words of support and encorougment
I will Keep you all updated on Hamish's condition

Stuart...

P.S. I will mention Fortekor and have a look at the FelineCRF website

[Gillian Harvey]

Hi Stuart,
You've got lots of good info already, and I really rate the felinecrf website, so much good info on there.  I expect Hamish was dehydrated and hence the reason for the IV fluids, he will probably feel much better after that, and you may be able to give fluids yourself (subcutaneously) at home which can also help enourmously, it certainly helped with my Suzie, and wish I'd started it earlier with her.

Now I have Jasper, who also has CRF, fairly advanced, but he's on fortekor, and seems to be doing quite well at the moment. So although there is no cure for CRF, there are treatments that can improve quality of life.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Hi Stuart &  to Purrs

Sorry to hear about Hamish,  I just want to say that although CRF is a progressive condition that you could have more time together than you think. My cat was diagnosed aged 17 and I was told 5 - 7 months would be a realistic timeframe of how long we had left together.  In the end we had another 20 months and it was not CRF that took her, with medication and diet her CRF was so well controlled that every blood test we had her results got better and the test before I lost her showed her results to be within normal range! I  really do second the recommendation of www.felinecrf.org  There is a lot to take in about CRF but the website I linked to is very easy to digest and very thorough,  I honestly believe that without the information that I had learned from that website my little girl would not have had as long as she did with me.

If Hamish is having IV fluids at the vets that could really pull him back so to speak, fluids at home is a completely different ball game and might not be necessary after Hamish has had his IV fluids.  Once he's back home and stable as Mark says a really important aspect of controlling CRF is diet.  My cat never ate the prescription foods either so we opted for lower phosphorous foods and when she decided they were the devils food she had 'normal' cat food with a special powder sprinkled on to absorb the phosphorous.  Don't want to get too bogged down with specifics at the moment as there is such a lot to take in but this is a really active site so you can ask new questions as and when and hopefully someone with CRF knowledge will be along soon enough.  Also if you ask your vet for the blood results and post them on here we can interpret them for you.  The main ones to look for are Urea, Creatinine and Phosphorous.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I am sure he will feel a lot better after 24 hours on fluids, and the vet explains things better to you then. Cats with CRF can live for years, so fingers crossed for him.
Mark, not all vets will use Fortekor, my vet doesn't rate it very much.

[Yvonne]

Good morning Stuart and   to Purrs

First of all thank you for taking Hamish in and giving him a good home and happy life all these years, he was a very lucky lad to meet you that night.

Unfortunately my encounter with CRF is not good as my cat did not last very long with it, however, there are members here whose cats have lived many years with CRF.  In addition to Elaine I hope that Helen - (Tiggys Mum) sees this thread very soon.  Helen gave me lots of advice when Cleo was poorly.

Have you seen this:

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php?topic=4817.0

 

[Mark]

Hi Stuart,

Welcome to purrs. I don't know much about thyroid but it is treatable with meds or surgery depending on severity. As for CRF, my 8 year old Clapton has mild CRF and with fortekor treatment his condition has improved so much that he is borderline normal now. There are also various prescription diets available with low phosphorus but mine won't eat them. There is a website full of info but there is a lot to take in http://www.felinecrf.org/ . I would assume if your vet is going straight to subQ's, the condition is quite bad although I am surprised they haven't prescribed fortekor as it is very good. Basically, it opens the arteries around the kidneys which takes the pressure off them and allows their body to expel the toxins that build up and make them feel rough. There are others on here that have a better understanding than me. Getting the phosphorus intake down is important. If he won't eat prescription food, senior food (ie felix or whiskas) is lower phosphorus than regular food. I would also say that if Hamish is going to need regular subQ's, maybe you could speak to your vet about doing it yourself at home as it will be expensive having the vet do it without all the stress of overnight stays. Not all vets will allow home treatment.  Good luck

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Hi Stuart, welcome to Purrs    Hamish and Misty look adoreable      I don't really know much about CRF but if you do a search, I'm sure you'll find some useful information.  I will point this thread out to Elaine as well as she is pretty much an expert on the subject and I'm sure will be glad to share her knowledge with you.  Look forward to hearing more about your furbabes and to see some more piccies 

Sending big hugs to Hamish and I hope he feels better soon, 

[Bazsmum]

  Stuart to Purrs 

Cant really give you any info hun but there will be more people on in the morning who will be able to help with your questions.....until then im wishing  to you and your cats x
(its a good sign that the cat is eating & drinking okay) 
Ps....your kitties are gorgeous

[Stuart]

Hi Folks, I just want some like minded ppl to speak to just now. I have two Cat's Hamish 17 and Misty 16.
I got Misty from a lad that I worked with and about a year later, coming home from work on a very wild night, Pouring down with rain and Howling a gale, just about to go into my house when above the wind noise I could hear Meowing, I looked around and could just make out this Black Cat, I took him in, put up ads for found cat but got no replys, eventually one of my neighbours told me of a family that had a cat like him but they had moved to australia, I dont know how long he had been running wild but he was unwell, took him to the vet's. ended up he had Cat flu & sinus infection. the Flu did come back a couple of years ago, but with treatment it cleared up again, apart from that he has had a healthy happy life.

Hamish old has not been his usual self these last few weeks, so took him to the vet's on monday, thyroid and CRF was suggested. When we got back from the vet's, he seem's to have gone from bad to worse, he is now spending most of his time by himself in the spare room, the vet phoned today with the results, blood count not good, and was told to bring him in tommorrow so he can be put on a drip for 24 hours, is this normal ??
Needless to say my heart has been sinking more and more with each passing day, He drinks plenty of water as for the last 10 years, I have kept a tap in the bath running for the both of them, He is still eating"just" got him a single fish from the chippy tonight and he scoffed most of it..
I think Deep down I know the outlook is not good, and he has reached a respectable age.




Would Be grateful for any Advice .... Stuart